The Highwaymen stretched their unbeaten run to 5 games but were left disappointed to leave the Recreation Ground in Pickering with only a point following a 1-1 draw.

Ryan Blott opened the scoring when he seized on a defensive lapse to fire home. Ben Sayer grabbed the equaliser when he rifled home in the second half.

Morpeth began the game on front foot, dominating possession but without really testing Harrison Foulkes in the Pickering goal.

The first chance of the game fell the way of the Highwaymen on 10 minutes and it was Sean Taylor with the effort. The winger produced some magic in the box before firing in an effort at the near post that forced Foulkes into a save with his foot.

After 24 minutes, the hosts responded and scored with their first effort of the game. A defensive mix up saw the ball break on the edge of the area to Ryan Blott, who took a touch and smashed the ball beyond Dan Lowson.

The Higwaymen hit back but couldn’t find the equaliser before the interval. Taylor was at the heart of everything good for the visitors and he stood a ball up to the back post but it just evaded his opposite winger Joe Walton.

Two minutes before the break and Taylor went closer again as he popped up on the opposite side of the box and saw an effort strike the angle of post and bar before going behind.

Morpeth must have had a rocket at half time from Nick Gray and they came out rejuvenated for the second half. However, for all their possession, they still couldn’t create any chances to test Foulkes.

On the hour mark, it was the hosts who went close to doubling their lead through Nick Thompson. The captain collected the ball on the edge of the area before curling a left-footed strike that Lowson was able to gather easily at his near post.

Morpeth grabbed their deserved equaliser with 65 minutes played, the ball dropped in the box for Liam Henderson who pulled it back for Ben Sayer to rifle it home into the roof of the net to send the send the travelling band of supporters into raptures.

The Highwaymen continued to press for an equaliser and captain Wayne Phillips was unlucky to see an effort go wide of the post when he had rampaged forward from left back.

Sayer, who had already got one goal forced Foulkes into a fine fingertip save to keep parity. The midfielder hit a rising shot from 25yrds that Foulkes got up to tip over for a corner.

Fresh from being awarded player of the month for January, David Carson forced Foulkes into another fabulous save as the clock struck 90 minutes.

From the resulting corner, the ball dropped the way of Michael Turner who nodded his header downwards into the turf but narrowly wide of the near post with Foulkes beaten.

The referee drew the contest to a close with Morpeth perhaps feeling their second half showing warranted all three points. However, it was another point gained as they remain top of the table.

The next game is on Saturday at Craik Park when Town entertain playoff hopefuls Sheffield F.C. Kick off is at 3pm so come down and see if the Highwaymen can get back to winning ways.

 

Pickering Town: Foulkes, Tilsley (Davison), Danby, Taylor (Bissett), Turnbull, Vaulks, Logan, Thompson, Blott, Dalton (McAughtrie), Greening.

Subs not Used: Lund, Barkway.

Goal: Blott 24’

Morpeth Town: Lowson, Forster (Potter), Phillips (c), Sayer, Petrache, Turner, Taylor, Hodgson (Graydon), Henderson (Foalle), David Carson, Walton.

Subs not Used: Mott, Reid.

Goal: Sayer 65′